Curious why Alexis Bledel‘s Emily left The Handmaid’s Tale? Her absence in Season 5 raised questions, especially after a major Season 4 finale moment. As the series moves toward its final season, fans want to know whether Emily will come back—or if Bledel has left for good.

Here’s what we know about why Alexis Bledel left The Handmaid’s Tale and what happened to Emily.

When did Alexis Bledel’s Emily leave The Handmaid’s Tale and why?

Alexis Bledel’s character, Emily Malek, last appeared in the Season 4 finale of The Handmaid’s Tale, where she helped other former handmaids exact revenge on Fred Waterford.

Her absence in Season 5 was explained in the premiere episode, where her wife Sylvia tells June that Emily returned to Gilead to fight the regime, saying, “It’s what [Emily] needed to do.”

The show introduced Emily in Season 1 as a fellow handmaid who eventually escaped Gilead with June’s daughter Nichole. Canada granted her asylum, and she is taken in by June’s husband. In Season 3, the series followed her as she adjusted to life outside Gilead and coped with trauma. She last appeared on-screen in Season 4, Episode 10.

Alexis Bledel announced in May 2022 that she would not return for Season 5. In a statement, she said, “After much thought, I felt I had to step away from The Handmaid’s Tale at this time. I am forever grateful to Bruce Miller for writing such truthful and resonant scenes for Emily, and to Hulu, MGM, the cast and crew for their support.”

Showrunner Bruce Miller confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Bledel chose to leave the series, stating, “[Alexis] made that decision completely on her own; it was a complicated time and she let me know.” Bledel has not publicly shared any additional reasons for her departure.

Her exit came shortly before her divorce from Vincent Kartheiser, finalized in August 2022. The Handmaid’s Tale has since continued without Emily into its sixth season.

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